Last Christmas we had a wonderful family gathering at Megan’s house near Aylesbury. With all the grandchildren gathered for Christmas Day. On Boxing Day some of them joined us on a walk along the lane and across the fields nearby. (Bryony couldn’t put her book down, but she did a pretty good job of walking and reading at the same time).
In February the church choir took a trip to Chichester to sing at the cathedral (Pauline to the left of the altar, Alice slightly to the left of centre and Benjamin 7th from the right).
Then later at the end of February Pauline and Peter took a trip to Costa Rica. We managed to see a large portion of the country, travelling from San Jose to the volcanos around the centre, the Caribbian on the east coast, and the Pacific on the west coast. We managed to include both Tropical Rain Forests and Cloud Forests, and saw the marked difference between forests on the Pacific side and those on the Caribbean side. We saw a stunning array of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and insects
A few of the pictures we took in Costa Rica:
Click here for : More pictures from our Costa Rica Trip
In May we travelled up to Sudbury Hall for Bryony’s birthday picnic, and to visit the Children’s Museum there.
The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves playing in the grounds, exploring the museum, including a lesson in a Victorian schoolroom, and solving a Mystery Room Puzzle in the Hall itself.
Later in the month we took a short trip down to Sussex to stay in Battle for a couple of days. On the way down we visited Batemans, Rudyad Kipling’s home. While we were there we saw Bodiam Castle and Pevensey Castle. Then on the way back we called in at Scotney Castle.
Since Alice returned to work we have been looking after Albert on Mondays (Alice doesn’t work on Tuesdays, and he goes to nursery the rest of the week).
We both look forward to Monday morning when he gets dropped off about 8. He then helps us get up (including rearranging Peter’s drawers and deciding what Peter should wear).
Albert usually visits a playgroup on the Monday morning. He is also a keen visitor to the library.
Other activities include riding his bike and making Jam tarts.
The three of us have tea together before Albert gets picked up in the evening.
Up in Bradford Bryony has found a taste for the dramatic so before the end of the school term she played Simba in the Year 6 production of the Lion King. She has also joined the Bradford Youth Players and we were able to see her in their production of Bugsey Malone. While we were in Bradford to see it we were also able to have dinner with Finn and Taegan
Bryony has now started Secondary School at Bradford Girls’ Grammer
Meanwhile in Aylesbury, William also started Secondary School.
Before they moved William was in the Scouts, but has decided on a change, so he is now in the Naval Cadet Corps,
Other Highlights in the year:
- Alice and Maurice went to watch the Rugby in France, so we had Albert for a total of 9 days!
- We took William and Albert to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum in October (William’s present for his 12th Birthday). A great time was had by all!
- Chloe’s 19th birthday party
- Pauline and Peter went to Elstree to watch the filming of a live episode of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in November.
- Albert’s 2nd birthday party at Alice and Maurice’s in November
John Eric Foster
13 Dec 2023Hi Peter and Pauline,
What a brilliant card! Thank you for sharing with me. I opened the email just after I had written a batch of hard copy and had chosen an Oxfam Adoration of The Christ. I will still send it on, but I’m slowly coming around to the e-card concept.
Best Wishes,
John
Stuart & Liz
21 Dec 2023Thank you Pauline & Peter, what a full year you have had! Love your wildlife photos from Costa Rica
Ian and Diane Batty
22 Dec 2023Hi Peter and Pauline,
Thank you for putting all the above together, it’s such a wonderful catch up. We’re not tech savvy ( that’s left to Simon)! We managed and glad we have.
How time is flying all our children grown up and now with their own children. Keith is 44 on Saturday!
All blessings for this Christmas and 2024 😘
Kevin Nightingale
29 Dec 2023Hello Peter and Pauline,
Thank you for your card and link to this post. Glad to see everyone is doing well. I am sorry we didn’t have a proper catch up at Dad’s funeral. Sally had been rather poorly leading up to the funeral so I wanted to return home as soon as possible. Fortunately things turned out ok but it was a difficult time.
Would you pass on my best wishes to Mum please.
Kind regards
Kevin x